A5087422091- Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology
- Bacterial biofilms and quorum sensing
- Escherichia coli research studies
- Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
- Monoclonal and Polyclonal Antibodies Research
- Advanced Electron Microscopy Techniques and Applications
- Biochemical and Structural Characterization
- Enzyme Structure and Function
- melanin and skin pigmentation
- Bacillus and Francisella bacterial research
- Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
- RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
- nanoparticles nucleation surface interactions
- Liver Diseases and Immunity
- Probiotics and Fermented Foods
- Microbial Fuel Cells and Bioremediation
- Calcium Carbonate Crystallization and Inhibition
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques
- Hepatitis C virus research
- Connexins and lens biology
- Nanopore and Nanochannel Transport Studies
- Oral microbiology and periodontitis research
- Immunotherapy and Immune Responses
- Coccidia and coccidiosis research
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
2013-2025
VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology
2012-2024
IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital
2023
Humanitas University
2023
Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie
2020-2021
KU Leuven
2012
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
2011
Catholic University of America
2009
Global Viral
2007
Escherichia coli strains adhere to the normally sterile human uroepithelium using type 1 pili, that are long, hairy surface organelles exposing a mannose-binding FimH adhesin at tip. A small percentage of adhered bacteria can successfully invade bladder cells, presumably via pathways mediated by high-mannosylated uroplakin-Ia and alpha3beta1 integrins found throughout uroepithelium. Invaded replicate mature into dense, biofilm-like inclusions in preparation fluxing infection neighbouring...
Abstract Filamentous cable bacteria display long-range electron transport, generating electrical currents over centimeter distances through a highly ordered network of fibers embedded in their cell envelope. The conductivity these periplasmic wires is exceptionally high for biological material, but chemical structure and underlying transport mechanism remain unresolved. Here, we combine high-resolution microscopy, spectroscopy, imaging on individual bacterium filaments to demonstrate that...
In 1989, Normark and coworkers reported on fibrous surface structures called curli strains of Escherichia coli that were suspected causing bovine mastitis. Subsequent work by many groups has revealed an elegant highly regulated biogenesis pathway also referred to as the type VIII secretion system. Curli is governed two divergently transcribed operons, csgBAC csgDEFG . The operon encodes structural subunits curli, CsgA CsgB, along with a chaperone-like protein, CsgC. accessory proteins...
For over 100 years, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) has been used as an agricultural biopesticide to control pests caused by insect species in the orders of Lepidoptera, Diptera and Coleoptera. Under nutrient starvation, Bt cells differentiate into spores associated toxin crystals that can adopt biofilm-like aggregates. We reveal such spore/toxin biofilms are embedded a fibrous extrasporal matrix (ESM), using cryoID, we resolved structure molecular identity uncharacterized type pili, referred...
For over 100 years, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) has been used as an agricultural biopesticide to control pests caused by insect species in the orders of Lepidoptera, Diptera and Coleoptera. Under nutrient starvation, Bt cells differentiate into spores associated toxin crystals that can adopt biofilm-like aggregates. We reveal such spore/toxin biofilms are embedded a fibrous extrasporal matrix (ESM), using cryoID, we resolved structure molecular identity uncharacterized type pili, referred...
Abstract Self-assembly of proteins holds great promise for the bottom-up design and production synthetic biomaterials. In conventional approaches, designer are pre-programmed with specific recognition sites that drive association process towards a desired organized state. Although proven effective, this approach poses restrictions on complexity material properties end-state. An alternative, hierarchical has found wide adoption inorganic systems, relies crystalline nanoparticles become...
Curli are functional amyloids expressed as fibres on the surface of Enterobacteriaceae. Contrary to protein misfolding events associated with pathogenic amyloidosis, curli result a dedicated biosynthetic pathway. A specialized transporter in outer membrane, CsgG, operates conjunction two accessory proteins CsgE and CsgF secrete curlin subunits extracellular surface, where they nucleate into cross-beta strand fibres. Here we investigate substrate tolerance CsgG capability heterologous...
Background: Escherichia coli strains adhere to the normally sterile human uroepithelium using type 1 pili, that are long, hairy surface organelles exposing a mannose-binding FimH adhesin at tip.A small percentage of adhered bacteria can successfully invade bladder cells, presumably via pathways mediated by high-mannosylated uroplakin-Ia and a3b1 integrins found throughout uroepithelium.Invaded replicate mature into dense, biofilm-like inclusions in preparation fluxing infection neighbouring...
In pathogenic Bacillota, spores can form an infectious particle and take up a central role in the environmental persistence dissemination of disease. A poorly understood aspect spore-mediated infection is fibrous structures or 'endospore appendages' (ENAs) that have been seen to decorate Bacilli Clostridia. Current methodological approaches are opening window on these long enigmatic structures. Using cryoID, Alphafold modelling genetic we identify sub-class robust ENAs Bacillus paranthracis...
Surface exposure of antigens on bacterial cells can be critical for eliciting an effective antibody response. Therefore, we investigated the cellular localization fimbrial F17a-G receptor-binding domain, fused to translocator domain AIDA-I autotransporter. Synthesis fusion protein, under control l -arabinose-inducible P BAD promoter, was shown permeabilize Escherichia coli K-12 and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium cells. The presence permeable interfered with several methods that are...
Gram-negative bacteria have eight known protein secretion systems. The type-VIII system, also as the curli biosynthesis is responsible for formation of aggregative fibres in Escherichia coli curli. Curli are extracellular proteinaceous primarily involved bacterial biofilm and attachment to nonbiotic surfaces. subunits depends on a dedicated lipoprotein, CsgG, which found form an oligomeric channel outer membrane. A nonlipidated mutant CsgG was expressed crystallized soluble form. crystals...